Naltrexone and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2014

Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder "Be 100% sure all opiates and methadone are completely out of your system. I had taken 60 mg of methadone 6 days before I got my shot. I told my doctor up front that I am not a chronic methadone user, maybe used it 4-5 times in the span of 2 months when hydrocodone wasn't available. It threw me into the worst withdrawals of my life. I have had severe withdrawals in the past, but this was so very intense unlike anything I've experienced before, for 2 days straight. The doctor said it would be fine at 6 days, but he was wrong. 15 minutes after the injection, I went into full-fledged withdrawal - severe cramps, spasms, fever, vomiting, freezing yet burning up. Make sure it is completely out of your body before you start. If you test positive for methadone, don't take the shot, wait it out."

• Oxy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2016

Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder "I'm following up on my first review from January 27th of 2016. I've now had 4 Vivitrol injections and gotta say, it's worked wonders. The first injection, as I said, caused migraines, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Every injection I've received since has been good. No symptoms whatsoever, only positive results. I've been clean since November 17th of 2015. This shot is truly a lifesaver, my cravings are less frequent and very short-lived. I recommend this shot to anyone struggling with opioid dependency. My next injection is tomorrow, and I'm sure the results will be the same as the last 3."

• Cha...
• February 18, 2014

Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have had the shot several times in the past but that has been over three years ago and I did have some side effects. The worst was vomiting in the morning, but it lasted about an hour after I woke up. It lasted for 2 weeks every time I got the shot. It has been 3 years and I started the shot again. I got the shot 3 days ago and I have one swollen lymph node under my neck, and my stomach is messed up with cramps, but it cramps I have never felt. They hurt but only in the morning, and I don't get sick. They are not that bad. I know one thing that sucked is my anxiety has increased, which is a problem for me and kind of scary. The shot is a good idea even with the side effects, it's 1000 times better than being dope sick."

• Tlo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "So I took my first dose last night, was very excited to start this new med after reading so much good stuff about it. Took my tablet at 9 and went to bed. At 10 I was so ill I wanted to die, vomiting, heart pounding, and sweats. Did not go to sleep until 5 a.m. Very disappointed and afraid to try it again."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2019

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I have been taking naltrexone on and off for a month. I am still fighting with severe nausea and vomiting while taking it, even after the doctor adjusted the dosage. I still drink wine at a whole bottle volume and will skip taking the naltrexone on nights I plan to. That behavior is what's holding me back from recovering faster, but I'm drinking 50% less this month than I had in the last 3 years. I used to be a big beer drinker. I loved beer. But I have zero interest in it anymore after drinking it with naltrexone. I'm eating less, but I most certainly have to eat when I take the tablet or I will be hating life for sure. Anyone else struggle with this side effect? I know it's working for me, but the nausea is discouraging."

• Ric...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 5, 2018

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I'm blessed that my doctor had the foresight to put me on naltrexone. At first, I thought I was allergic to it because I vomited, but I was still in withdrawal at that time. Luckily, I kept taking it. Now, it seemed to take almost 2 months before I was seeing the difference. What I noticed first was that every time I thought of alcohol, I'd feel really nauseated. This went on for a while to where now, I don't have that. I simply don't think about alcohol anymore, and if I do, it's with indifference. I also think there are other factors that, when combined, give you a very good chance at success. Just like always, you have to want to quit for it to have the best success rate. For me, naltrexone is nothing short of a miracle, and why I have been 1 year and 1 month sober now. My advice is to stick with it, even if it seems like it's not doing anything. It took me about 7 weeks of taking it daily before I noticed the change. Best of luck."

• Oxy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2016

Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder "The shot is a very good deterrent for me. I am being forced to undergo 6 months of injections against my will. My drug of choice is Oxymorphone (Opana) and Oxycodone 30 mg. I've been using for about two years before I got locked up for 5 months. Got out, did okay for about a month, then relapsed. Before I knew it, I was doing pills every day...again. Went to rehab about a month after my first relapse, did the 30 days there, and probation forced me to make Vivitrol part of my recovery plan. The first shot was horrible at first. I was clean for 27 days before I got it, but once injected, I started getting lightheaded. Then came vomiting, stomach cramps, and pretty bad migraines. I'm getting shot number two in about 5 days."

• MyT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2017

Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder "This shot is saving my life. The first 5 days after injection were difficult due to side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches), but they have since dissipated. I no longer feel any effects and have been clean from IV heroin for 29 days. I highly suggest this shot for anybody looking to stay off of opiates."

• Mik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 27, 2019

Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder "I hate this stuff. I have to take it because of my sober living house. I've been on it for six months, and I'm always sick off it, in and out of the hospital. It's killing my social life and affecting me at work. It gives me the worst headache ever. I feel like I cannot function or do anything. It makes me vomit all the time and have a constant migraine."

• ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2015

For Opioid Use Disorder "I just got my first shot yesterday after detoxing for 4 days. I have had no reaction to the shot so far besides not being able to sleep as great as I would have liked to last night. I have been struggling with my addiction to pain pills for many years now. Tired of Suboxone and stayed somewhat clean using here and there when I felt like it, I would sell my subs to get h. I’ve been to a detox center a few times, even detoxed myself at home, and this is coming from a person that has bad withdrawals like vomiting for 6 days straight. But for some reason, I would always go right back to it. So reading these comments makes me hopeful for my future, and I will let you know how things are after my second shot."

• Mea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I got naltrexone 25 mg daily from my general practitioner as a means to lose weight, however, there have been other benefits too. I was a functioning addict of anything I could get my hands on for many years. The only person who really knew this was my husband. I couldn't handle the side effects of nausea and vomiting the first few days, so my doctor prescribed me an anti-nausea med. Ever since then, I have been feeling great. I am losing weight, yes, but I'm also free and clean, which I wouldn't have been able to say without this medication."

• Emi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2021

For Alcohol Use Disorder "I began with 50 mg a day, took that for two days, but the side effects were horrendous. Reduced it to 25 mg and still no difference. Only managed 4 days in total. Had to stop, I felt like I’d been poisoned. Woke up with horrible headaches, had crazy dreams, spaced out during the day, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, weird stretching feeling. Been off it for 48 hours and feel so much better. Going to go back to good old willpower and therapy to kick my drinking habit. I read such positive things about this drug, but it sure didn’t work for me. Maybe I should have tried it for longer, but I just couldn’t handle the side effects. Made me realize there’s no such thing as a magic pill."

• Bay...
• June 17, 2021

Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder "Took the injection after medical opiate detox. Instantly, I was puking and having horrible diarrhea. Things remained horrible. Couldn’t eat for 5 days. Constant severe blood pressure increase. I “thought” it was due to detox, but now I know that I am allergic to this injection. I immediately had to go on high doses of blood pressure meds in order to not have a heart attack or stroke. The symptoms are still here 25 days after injection. Night sweats, insomnia, severe depression. This was the worst decision I have ever made. And life threatening. Pulled medical records past 5 years, never had high blood pressure. I paid $30K to go to the best medically induced opiate detox, then stay at a million dollar home with staff. I had to stay 3 extra days while others would leave completely fine 4 days earlier. I was the sickest I have ever been. In one week, lost 26 lbs, no sleep, high blood pressure, extreme fatigue. I'm just praying all these horrific side effects go away soon. Absolute worst decision I’ve made."

• Bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2022

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was prescribed naltrexone 50 mg nightly for ongoing opiate cravings. I was so excited to try it! I took it the night it was filled, and it worked that night... because the side effects were so terrible I couldn't think of anything else. I kept having diarrhea, vomiting, constant dizziness, just an odd feeling of being foggy/not actually being within myself. I took this for 6 days, but I am going to stop and not continue tonight. I'd rather deal with my thoughts than this."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2023

For Alcohol Use Disorder "Works great! Vomiting my brains out after two drinks. No cravings, I drank. I abuse alcohol continuously on one- to two-week binges. I'd have had 105 drinks, at least, without it. As none is best, something that makes you puke in discomfort knowing that you don't crave alcohol in the moment, regardless, is a substitute and a hand out of the sewer. I've been in a few and appreciate the concept. To drink while taking this medication indicates underlying issues of self-harm."

• gre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "Chills, diarrhea, vomiting."